Elementary school enrollment after ACTH therapy for patients with infantile epileptic spasms syndrome

Purpose

Infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS) often has a severe neurodevelopmental prognosis. However, few studies have examined the aspect of elementary school enrollment. This study evaluated elementary school enrollment after adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) therapy in patients with IESS.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated the elementary school enrollment of patients with IESS who were administered ACTH at the Saitama Children's Medical Center between January 1993 and August 2024. We evaluated elementary school enrollment, seizure outcomes, motor development, and intellectual development at the time of school enrollment in the ACTH responder and nonresponder groups. Response was defined as complete remission of epileptic spasms and no other seizure occurrence from ACTH administration initiation until the age of 6 years.

Results

In total, 116 patients (62 male) were included in this study. The median age at IESS onset was 5 (range, 0–24) months. Twenty-seven patients (23.3 %) maintained complete remission of epileptic spasms from ACTH initiation to elementary school enrollment. The responder group had a significantly higher rate of regular class attendance (48.1 %) and exhibited normal intelligence or developmental quotient (33.3 %) compared with the nonresponder group (p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively). Patients with an unknown etiology were more likely to attend regular classes (37.5 %). The median age of the last hospital visit was 13 (6.0–24.4) years. Lennox-Gastaut syndrome was diagnosed in 5.2 % (6/116) of patients at the last visit.

Conclusion

Our findings can help pediatricians predict elementary school enrollment and neurodevelopmental outcomes in patients with IESS receiving ACTH therapy.